, they're driving the debate to the same place- the economy. >> president romney's leadership puts jobs first. romney economics-- it didn't work then and it won't work now. >> reporter: with unemployment above 8%, the economy is set to play as big a role in this election as any in living memory. and with the presidency on the line, the stakes couldn't be higher. >> since the 1930's, for better or for worse, americans have held the president directly responsible for the performance of the economy. there's not a lot of evidence that presidents wield as much power over the economy as the american electorate thinks they do, but it's what they think that matters. >> reporter: the economy looked good this winter, as more than 200,000 jobs were added each month, and europe appeared to reign in its debt crisis. but this spring, it's started to look downright scary again for some americans, putting the president on uneven footing as november nears. >> what we're seeing playing out now, is the election. the monthly job statistics and reports on manufacturing, reports on household income, reports